Practice golf club

ABSTRACT

The training and practice golf club of the present invention is directed to the attainment of the proper feel of the grip for a golf swing or stroke, other than on a putting surface. This feel is obtained by dividing the club&#39;&#39;s normal grip means transversely into two parts. The upper portion is immovably secured to the upper end of the shaft in the usual manner. The lower portion of the grip means is secured to a fitted and freely rotating sleeve which is slipped over the club shaft and moved upwardly until the two grip portions abutt. A portion of the sleeve extends beyond and below the terminus of the lower grip means. A coiled spring is slipped over the sleeve portion and spaced from, but adjacent to, the terminus of the lower grip means. One end of the coiled spring is bent inwardly at right angles and restrained in a hole bored in the sleeve just below the lower grip means. The projecting end of the spring rides in a transverse slot to provide limited rotation. The lower end of the spring is also bent inwardly at right angles and rides in a registering transverse slot in the sleeve and its projecting end is restrained in a hole bored in the main shaft. In this manner the lower portion of the grip means may be rotated against the tension of the coil spring to provide the feel in properly gripping a golf club. Unless the tension by rotation is felt, the proper grip is not attained.

United States Patent Smolinski 1 Sept. 10,1974

PRACTICE GOLF CLUB Richard C. Smolinski, 72 Mar Vista Dr., Monterey, Calif. 93940 Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 Appl. No.: 338,180

Inventor:

US. Cl. 273/183 D, 273/81 C, 273/193 B Int. Cl A63b 69/36 Field of Search 273/183, 81, 193, 194,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1923 Phelan 273/81 R 12/1940 Moore. 273/81 C 8/1972 Proctor 273/183 D Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo putting surface. This feel is obtained by dividing the clubs normal grip means transversely into two parts. The upper portion is immovably secured to the upper end of the shaft in the usual manner. The lower portion of the grip means is secured to a fitted and freely rotating sleeve which is slipped over the club shaft and moved upwardly until the two grip portions abutt. A portion of the sleeve extends beyond and below the terminus of the lower grip means. A coiled spring is slipped over the sleeve portion and spaced from, but adjacent to, the terminus of the lower grip means. One end of the coiled spring is bent inwardly at right angles and restrained in a hole bored in the sleeve just below the lower grip means. The projecting end of the spring rides in a transverse slot to provide limited rotation. The lower end of the spring is also bent inwardly at right angles and rides in a registering transverse slot in the sleeve and its projecting end is restrained in a hole bored in the main shaft. In this manner the lower portion of the grip means may be rotated against the tension of the coil spring to provide the feel in properly gripping a golf club. Unless the tension by rotation is felt, the proper grip is not attained.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENIEQ SEPI 0:924

SHEET 1 OF 2 PRACTICE GOLF CLUB BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The device disclosed herein is a sporting goods implement, namely, a practice golf club, other than a putter.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been known for some time that the grip of the golfer on the golf club in making a golf stroke plays a very important part in the success of the shot and the degree of the skill of the golfer. It is axiomatic that the hands do nothing more than grip the club shaft. When and how the club is gripped are the matters which the golfer tries to master to improve his game.

In the past the golfer in trying to learn the answers to these basic problems, is met with the bewildering complex of teaching and most of all by a paradox relax and grip the club. A moments reflection convinces one that this is impossible, and one cannot be relaxed and at the same time grip the golf club firmly. It appears beyond belief that a relaxed body, including the hands, can be called upon to furnish the energy to propel a golf ball, 250 to 300 yards. There are a myriad of theories on gripping a club but the teaching here is that the club should be gripped with both hands, with the hands turning toward each other in a twist to establish tension when making a golf stroke. Thus the club becomes an extension of the arms and so the club moves with the movement of the arms. This is different from a tight or squeezing grip, which locks the wrists and takes out all free movement.

In recent years, the professional golfers have made it abundantly clear that concentration is a necessary element of the game of golf. Concentration is of course, the mental control of any golf swing. It has been discovered in using the practice club disclosed herein, that a firm grip is the key to concentration and eliminates the deliberate consciousness of focusing on this subject.

Furthermore, it has been discovered that gripping the golf club firmly with both hands in no way interferes with the proper swing, wrist action, pivot or any other element of the golf swing.

In any full shot, the golfer is filled with thoughts of dos and donts, so many in fact that the game would become interminable if one were to run through the catalog of reminders prior to every shot. In the learning and practice, one does everything possible to eliminate the checklist to speed up the play and the enjoyment of the game. While modes of teaching and goals to be attained in learning a golf swing vary with the time and the teacher, it has been found that there is basic accord in the firm grip of both hands to make the learning process easier and less burdensome in the playing.

Many devices have been suggested to correct a hook or a slice which are two of the more common failures of the duffer golfer, including grips divided into two portions, with one portion rotatable with respect to the shaft without restraint. The right hand of the golfer being the greatest offender, most have provided the upper portion of the grip with the rotation. Locking means have been provided to lock the rotatable portion of the grip if such action is not desired. This concept of rotatable portions to prevent erratic stroking of the golf ball has been carried to the extreme in a grip for a golf club comprising an entire series of individually rotating abutting rings, all with free rotation around the axis of the shaft. Still another structure rotates the grip to a limited degree, left or right, and locks in the adjusted position to change the angle of the face of the club head in addressing the ball. The latest issued patent found is directed to a grip wrapping on the shaft, which responds to the pressure of the hands individually. The squeeze of each hand during the golf swing places pressure on a system of tubes filled with liquid. The tubes are built into the grip itself and under the pressure of the grip convey liquid towards the top of the shaft. Thus the pressure exerted by each hand is transmitted to a small bellows which makes a record of the gripping pressure during the swing for subsequent analysis and reference.

It is frequently said that hitting the ball properly for distance and direction is the most perplexing problem an amateur faces in learning and playing the game of golf. Certainly the number of books addressed to this subject matter over the past decade testifies as to the truth of this statement. However the problem is not lim' ited to the amateur for it is likewise a problem for the professional, especially if he becomes a bit careless under the stress of tournament play.

The discovery that a proper grip is a key to good golf is a great advance in helping the golfer solve this problem. But how to put this recognition to use, simply and directly, has been the objective of the present invention. The physical feel of a proper gripping of the club which is established by the practice club described herein, is translated by habit to the swing of the regular playing clubs. The benefits resulting from the physical training of a proper gripping of the club are many, as the proper feel directly carries the advantages of keeping the left arm straight on backswing, helps eliminate sway, helps prevent hitting from the top of the swing, keeps the shoulders down which keeps the player behind the ball, engenders automatic shoulder turn, and many others, but all without the mental gymnastics to appropriately bring them to mind at the right time.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and dis-assembly, also such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same is illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the practice golf club showing the position of the hands in addressing a golf ball prior to the stroke;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary portion of the upper end of the golf club taken on the line II II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an expanded perspective view of the fragmentary portion shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line IV IV of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical fragmentary section taken on the line V V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the two abutting cylinders positioned within the golf club shaft;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cylinders within the shaft showing the registration of the holes and slot;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cylinders within the shaft and the sleeve surrounding the shaft with all holes and slots in register;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective the same as FIG. 8, only with the spring resistance means added and held in position by the pins secured in the respective cylinders, and

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the spring resistant means and the holding by the pins.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The practice golf club disclosed herein is designated 10 in FIG. 1. It has the usual shaft 11 which is either stepped or tapered as is the custom in making such shafts whether they are made of steel or aluminum. It has the usual hosel 12 for joining the club head 14 to the shaft 11. The club head 14 can either be that for an iron or the head of a wood club. The club 10 is provided with a grip of the standard length only it is divided, substantially its mid-section, into two portions, the upper portion being 15 and the lower portion 16. The upper portion 15 is secured in the usual manner at the upper end of the shaft 11 so that they become an integral unit. The shaft 11 is provided with a sleeve 17 preferably of the same kind and character of material as the shaft itself. The sleeve 17 is of sufficient inner diameter to rotate around the shaft 11 when it is in position without binding and without making a sloppy or wobbly joint, i.e., with a minimum of play. To the upper end of the sleeve 17, the lower portion 16 of the grip is attached and made fast thereto. The completed sleeve 17 and grip 16 is slipped on to the shaft at the lower end before the head 14 is attached, and it is positioned with the lower grip portion 16 abutting the upper portion of the grip 15. The fit is with a minimum of play and without any binding or retardation of free rotation. If desired, washers 18 may be inserted between the juncture of the upper and lower portions of the divided grip 15 and 16, to aid an accurate rotation and to assist in unitizing the two grip positions.

To restrain the free rotation of the lower grip 16 and the sleeve 17 on the shaft 11 there is a coil spring 20 which surrounds the sleeve 17 at a point spaced from but adjacent to the lower end of the grip portion 16. At the upper end of the spring 20 its end 21 is bent at a right angle radially inward and retained by the hole 22 in the sleeve 17. The projecting end 21 has sufficient length to guide in a slot 23 in the main shaft 11 to provide only limited rotating movement therein. At the other end of the spring 20 the end is also bent radially inward at a right angle as at 24 and is retained in a hole 25 bored in the main shaft 11, with the shank guiding in a slot 26 provided in the sleeve 17. The sleeve 17 extends downwardly on the shaft 11 several inches be yond the coil spring 20. This is for the purpose of strengthening and support for the shaft against breaking or bending at the drilled holes when regulation balls are hit with the club.

It is apparent from FIG. 1 that in the normal right handed swing the left hand grips the upper portion 15 of the grip and the right hand grips the lower portion 16 of the grip. The right hand is capable of rotating the shaft counter-clockwise within the sleeve 17 and against the resistance of spring 20 which is not great but may be easily detected or experienced. Also that both hands may rotate the grip against each other in a twisting action at the same time to provide the resistance or tension. Basically the grip of the left hand is square to the face and only the sleeve is rotated. Unless and until this tension is felt by the golfer, a proper grip on the golf club for a proper stroke is not attained.

Only then should the golfer address the ball and position the club head behind the ball in the manner in which he intends to make his stroke.

The golfer should first rotate his right hand to the relative position of the hands which he has determined to be correct for his swing. The rotation against the resistance of the spring 20 provides the feel which signals the golfer that his hands in this position provide a proper grip for making his stroke. Unless and until the golfer experiences this resistance provided by the rotation against the spring 20 he does not have a proper grip for striking the ball. The proper use of the practice club described herein is to establish the proper grip before addressing the ball, to activate the legs and whole body so that the swing is the flow of an entire unit. It is only then that the ball is addressed to make the stroke.

There has been some criticism that there would be very noticeable friction resistance and grinding between the sleeve 17 and the shaft 11, making the sleeve unnecessarily resistant to rotation, due to the tension of spring 20 between the points of attachment 22 and 25. In some instances the spring 20 might pull in each of these points of attachment thereby tending to cock the sleeve on the shaft. Since the prospect of any such problem involves only the manner of attaching the spring 20 to the shaft and the sleeve, the modification to avoid such criticism results in no change in the invention or in the efficacy of the teaching expressed herein.

Accordingly, an alternate form of attachment is shown in FIGS. 6 10 inclusive wherein like parts are identified by the same numerals as in FIGS. 1 5 inclusive. Referring now to FIG. 6 there are shown two Nylon or Teflon cylinders 30 and 31 which have diameters slightly less than the inner diameters of their positions within shaft 11 where they are intended to reside. Each of the cylinders has a transverse bore 32 and 33. The cylinders 30 and 31 are slid into abutting position within the shaft 11 with the hole 33 in registry with the slot 23 of the shaft, and the hole 32 in registry with the hole 25 of the shaft 11. When the sleeve 17 is slipped over the shaft the hole 22 is in registry through the slot 23 and with the hole 33, and the slot 26 is in registry with the holes 25 and 32. In this position double headed studs 34 and 35 are positioned and maintained in any suitable manner in the bores 32 and 33 respectively, with the stud 34 passing through the slot 26, through hole 25 and anchored in hole 32. Stud 35 passes through hole 22 in the sleeve through the slot 23 and secured in hole 33. Thus the studs 34 and 35 are anchored in position and since the slots 23 and 26 are slightly wider than the diameter then the shank of the studs, each moves in the corresponding slot without any contact with the sides thereof. This operation makes stud 34 a part of the shaft while stud 35 is a part of the sleeve. The spring is slipped over the sleeve 17 on the shaft 11 as before but is secured to the stud 34 at one end by loop 36 and to the stud 35 at the other end by loop 37.

Since the cylinders and 31 remain in abutting position at all times, the spacing of the studs 34 and 35 is uniformly maintained. The cylinders 30 and 31 being of Nylon or Teflon are self-lubricating and wear resistant. Also because of the abutting cylinders 30 and 31 the inner tension or pull of spring 20 against the studs is uniformly maintained and canting of any of the members is no longer possible. Thus the only friction against rotation in assuming an appropriate grip, is the friction of the two cylinders abutting each other and so they are quiet and free moving being self-lubricating. In this manner unencumbered friction free and grinding free rotation of the sleeve on the shaft is attained without any further problem or servicing.

There are so many mental considerations required of a golfer in making a swing that a tactile aid which takes into account of and disposes of many of the mental considerations is most helpful and much easier for the golfer to understand and achieve. That is primarily the purpose and function of this practice club.

As stated earlier, the golf club disclosed herein is not intended as a playing club, but merely as a practice club. The practice club always provides a means for determining the proper grip of the club, and makes the golfer physically conscious of the proper tension and therefore proper grip.

I claim:

1. In a golf practice club, in combination a shaft, a grip for said shaft, said grip being of standard length divided transversely into two portions upper and lower, the upper portion being immovably secured to the upper end of said shaft, a sleeve closely but rotatably encircling said shaft from the lower end of the secured upper grip portion to well below the lower end of the normal grip length, the lower portion of said grip being secured to the upper end of said sleeve abutting the upper grip portion, resistant spring means spaced from the lower end of said sleeve and from the lower end of the lower grip portion, said spring being secured at one end by the said shaft and at the other by the said sleeve for rotation of said sleeve against the resistance of said spring means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the grip portions are substantially equal one portion being for the right hand and the other for the left hand, and wherein the resistance of the spring means produces the physical response required of a proper golf stroke.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein bearing washers are inserted between the two grip portions and where the resistant spring means is a coil spring surrounding the sleeve with one end secured in a hole in the sleeve and passing through an elongated slot in the shaft for limited rotary movement and the other end is secured in a hole in the shaft after passing through an elongated slot for the same limited rotary movement.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein alternate cooperating holes and slots are provided in the said shaft and sleeve, a pair of abutting cylindrical plugs each having means for receiving studs, a pair of studs, one each secured in said abutting cylinders through the respective registering openings in the sleeve and in the shaft, and the resistant spring means secured between said studs.

5. A golf practice club having the conventional shaft, a grip of customary length for said shaft, said grip being divided into two separate upper and lower parts, the upper part being secured to the upper end of the shaft in the customary manner, an external sleeve surrounding said shaft for rotation thereabout with minimum clearance, said sleeve extending from the lower end of upper grip part to well beyond the lower end of the lower grip part, said lower grip part secured to the upper end of said sleeve so that the lower end of the upper grip part and the upper end of the lower grip part abutt and bear one against the other, resistance means spaced from the lower grip part secured at one end of the shaft and to the sleeve at the other end so that the counter-clockwise rotation of the lower grip portion and sleeve against the resistance will produce the appropriate feel for the proper grip for a golf stroke.

6. The golf practice club of claim 5 wherein bearing washers are inserted between the abutting grip parts and the resilient spring means is a coil spring surrounding the sleeve.

7. The golf practice club of claim 5 wherein the resistance means is a spring retained in position by spaced studs, said studs being retained in precise spaced relation by two abutting cylinders within the shaft in which they are secured. 

1. In a golf practice club, in combination a shaft, a grip for said shaft, said grip being of standard length divided transversely into two portions upper and lower, the upper portion being immovably secured to the upper end of said shaft, a sleeve closely but rotatably encircling said shaft from the lower end of the secured upper grip portion to well below the lower end of the normal grip length, the lower portion of said grip being secured to the upper end of said sleeve abutting the upper grip portion, resistant spring means spaced from the lower end of said sleeve and from the lower end of the lower grip portion, said spring being secured at one end by the said shaft and at the other by the said sleeve for rotation of said sleeve against the resistance of said spring means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the grip portions are substantially equal one portion being for the right hand and the other for the left hand, and wherein the resistance of the spring means produces the physical response required of a proper golf stroke.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein bearing washers are inserted between the two grip portions and where the resistant spring means is a coil spring surrounding the sleeve with one end secured in a hole in the sleeve and passing through an elongated slot in the shaft for limited rotary movement and the other end is secured in a hole in the shaft after passing through an elongated slot for the same limited rotary movement.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein alternate cooperating holes and slots are provided in the said shaft and sleeve, a pair of abutting cylindrical plugs each having means for receiving studs, a pair of studs, one each secured in said abutting cylinders through the respective registering openings in the sleeve and in the shaft, and the resistant spring means secured between said studs.
 5. A golf practice club having the conventional shaft, a grip of customary length for said shaft, said grip being divided into two separate upper and lower parts, the upper part being secured to the upper end of the shaft in the customary manner, an external sleeve surrounding said shaft for rotation thereabout with minimum clearance, said sleeve extending from the lower end of upper grip part to well beyond the lower end of the lower grip part, said lower grip part secured to the upper end of said sleeve so that the lower end of the upper grip part and the upper end of the lower grip part abutt and bear one against the other, resistance means spaced from the lower grip part secured at one end of the shaft and to the sleeve at the other end so that the counter-clockwise rotation of the lower grip portion and sleeve against the resistance will produce the appropriate feel for the proper grip for a Golf stroke.
 6. The golf practice club of claim 5 wherein bearing washers are inserted between the abutting grip parts and the resilient spring means is a coil spring surrounding the sleeve.
 7. The golf practice club of claim 5 wherein the resistance means is a spring retained in position by spaced studs, said studs being retained in precise spaced relation by two abutting cylinders within the shaft in which they are secured. 